The Watchdog has been let off its leash

Readers react on scanners, Fletcher and unemployment

The Watchdog did a disservice to its readership. By printing untruths in the first paragraph of the article, it lent credence to the disreputable claims put forth by a group with an interest in electing their own lapdog. Shame on Trent Seibert for couching this lack of facts in a manner where the truths are sent packing to page 2, while the lies are put in lead position. I'd expect more from a column aimed at protecting the citizens of San Diego. It seems the Watchdog has been let off its leash and should now be called the U-T Attack Dog.

John Poutre

Clairemont

Foolish waste of money

Taxpayers of San Diego beware: County finds few errors. When I started to read this article in the U-T Watchdog, I was expecting to read about price gouging in the real estate market or banks with hidden charges. What I did find is that the taxpayers are supporting a frivolous agency to fine stores that have miss marked items or the bar code was not correct. For the amount of $600,000 that is funded by the county, they have found that Walgreens had charged 29 cents more for a item. The list goes on with trivial amounts that do not justify a $600,000 budget. To my best understanding I don`t know of a store that overcharges customers on purpose. Buyer beware. Myself, I always look at the sales receipt to assure the accuracy of the charge. This money could be spent on other programs that will help the general public, not this foolish waste of taxpayers money.

Tom Dineley

Imperial

Get the title right

I am writing regarding the referenced article and your pointed reluctance to call state officials by their accurate legal titles. Since the 1960s, delegates of the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board have been required to have at least five years experience practicing law, including trial work or representations in hearings. While "hearing officer" may be a fair generic job description, the legal title under the Unemployment Insurance Code is administrative law judge. It has been that since the mid 1970s. Before that they were called "referees". Yet, even when you were quoting someone else who probably used a more accurate word or phrase, you deleted it and put "hearing officer" in parentheses. This does not aid any reader to identify the individual or the office. It is poor journalism.